The city-airport connection, implications for urban transport planning in motorcycle-dominated cities

Abstract

The objective of this study is to propose solutions for in-the-city airport countries where significant conflict between airport-access traffic and pass-by traffic (other urban traffic not accessing the airport) is observed. The study firstly investigates major transport problems of in-the-city airport area. It then reviews different solutions from international studies. The development of transport infrastructure system is proposed with different scenarios and the transport impact assessment is conducted by VISSIM microscopic simulation. The recommendation for city-airport connection is highlighted for the case of Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam where Tan Son Nhat International Airport locates. The airport separated-access road is proposed for a short-term vision. The study reveals that improvement of transport infrastructure only could not resolve traffic congestion since the traffic demand is much beyond the traffic supply. A multimodal connection and traffic demand management are required for urban traffic in a longer term. The outcomes of this study might benefit urban planners and transport authorities in many cities where motorcycles are dominating.